This is my page of little-known facts. Little known fact #1: I am a trivia junkie. Yes indeed, I love those game shows! I enjoy gathering knowledge that has little or no value in the real world, but can win you a lot of money on shows like Jeopardy! Who knows, I just might make it to that show one day. In the meantime, here are some of the facts I've picked up over the years. I'll update this page regularly, because I wouldn't want you good people to get bored. Now, here's the scoop...
1. It's widely known that Alexander Graham Bell beat Elisha Gray to the patent office by a mere two hours
with his application to patent the telephone. However, ten years after Bell's patent was issued, patent
examiner Zenas Wilber admitted in a sworn affadavit that he had taken a $100 bribe from Bell, had
taken a loan from Bell's patent attorney, and had given Bell the complete details of Gray's caveat.
Hmmmm....
2. Judging from the time and money that the candidates are
spending on the campaign, it seems as if they are just dying
to be elected president. But there are many people who are
betting that the reverse is also true: whoever is elected in
2000 will die in office. Now *you* don't believe that old
urban legend about years divisible by 20, do you?
Maybe you should. It isn't exactly true, but . . . the winner
may have trouble buying life insurance. So far, nine
presidents were elected in years divisible by 20. Six died
before their term ended: William Henry Harrison (1840),
Lincoln (1860), Garfield (1880), McKinley (1900), Harding
(1920), and Kennedy (1960). Franklin D. Roosevelt was
reelected in 1940 but died in 1945, after his 1944 reelection.
So that's really seven out of nine. Maybe they should be
running from, not for the office this year.
(Source: MYTH-INFORMED by Paul Dickson & Joseph C. Goulden)
3. It's 1687 and a coffee house near London's riverfront is becoming a popular
spot for seafarers and traders. As a courtesy, the owner, Edward Lloyd,
posts daily shipping schedules for patrons who negotiate funding for future
voyages - an early form of insurance.These "underwriters" eventually buy
the coffee house and turn it into a world-class insurance association.
Today, Lloyd's of London is renowned for insuring the uninsurable: a film
stars' legs; the "unsinkable" Titanic; a satellite in space.
Though he never sold any—Edward Lloyd's name is synonymous with
insurance… since it all began… over a cup of his coffee!
